Housing department seeks council approval to extend Bethune Center timeline, advance tax-credit hearing and authorize multiple homelessness program agreements

The Houston Housing and Community Development Department asked the joint Quality of Life and Housing and Affordability committees on June 16 to approve a series of actions: a third amendment to a renovation agreement for the Bethune Empowerment Center, initiation of a city "resolution of no objection" process for a 4% housing tax-credit application (Enclave at Katy), acceptance of a state homeless housing services program award, and multiple subrecipient agreements to fund homelessness outreach, rapid rehousing, behavioral-health navigation and stabilization programs.

Assistant Director Ryan Bibbs told the committee the department seeks council approval for a third amendment to the renovation agreement between the City of Houston and Houston Business Development Inc. (HBDI) to extend the construction performance period for the Bethune Empowerment Center project from June 30, 2025, to Oct. 31, 2025. Bibbs said the director may grant an additional extension to Dec. 1, 2025, if needed, but that any extension after Dec. 1 would require council approval. He said the amendment would not require additional city funding.

Bibbs and Director Mike Nichols described the Bethune site (2500 South Victory Drive, formerly Mary McLeod Bethune Academy) as a seven-building rehab owned by Aldine ISD that will contain administrative space, an early childhood learning center, workforce and small-business incubation space, a community garden and other uses. Bibbs said the project’s total budget is roughly $13,000,000 across construction and operations (he reported $12,000,000 allocated for construction and $1.4 million for operations). He said approximately $4.6 million has been spent on construction to…